Hydraulic clamping apparatus and pivotal mounting for a side shiftable mechanical digger slide frame

ABSTRACT

A mechanical digger support assembly includes a boom-supporting slide frame mounted for transverse sliding and limited vertical pivoting or rocking on a tractor-supported transverse main frame. Hydraulically applied clamping apparatus are provided for causing abutment surfaces on the slide frame to pivot into locking engagement with abutment surfaces on the main frame to secure the slide frame against movement at selected positions along the main frame.

United States Patent Inventors Pierre Moriceau Saran; Jean PierreBaudet, Orleans, both of France Appl. No. 23,729 Filed Mar. 30, 1970Patented Oct. 19, 1971 Assignee Deere & Company Moline, Ill. PrioritySept. 1, 1969 France 6,929,784

HYDRAULIC CLAMPING APPARATUS AND PIVOTAL MOUNTING FOR A SIDE Sl-HFIABLEMECHANICAL DIGGER SLIDE FRAME 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 280/456, 37/103,172/274, 214/138 C Int. Cl B60d l/00 Fiefd ofSearch 280/456;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,155,250 11/1964 Frenchetal 214/138C 3,174,635 3/1965 Van Auwelaeretal. 2l4/138C 3,220,48711/1965 Pilch 214/138 X 3,304,100 2/1967 Long 280/456 FOREIGN PATENTS975,029 1 H1964 Great Britain 280/45 6 Primary ExaminerLe0 F riagliaAttorneys-H. Vincent l-larsha, Harold M. Knoth, William A.

Murray, John M. Nolan and Raymond L. Hollister ABSTRACT: A mechanicaldigger support assembly includes a boom-supporting slide frame mountedfor transverse sliding and limited vertical pivoting or rocking on atractor-supported transverse main frame. Hydraulically applied clampingapparatus are provided for causing abutment surfaces on the slide frameto pivot into locking engagement with abutment surfaces on the mainframe to secure the slide frame against movement at selected positionsalong the main frame.

PATENTEDUET 19 um 3,514,134

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fifi 32 I8 IO 34 ii 46 II 48 52 x J, INVENTORS 4 36 so PIERRE MORICEAUJEAN PIERRE BAUDEY FIG. 2

PATENTEDUCT 19 um SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVISNI'ORS RRE MORICEAU N PIERRE BAUDETHYDRAULIC CLAMPING APPARATUS AND PIVOTAL MOUNTING FOR A SIDE SI-IIFTABLE MECHANICAL DIGGER SLIDE FRAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a side-shiftable mechanical digger and moreparticularly relates to a novel mounting and locking combination for theslide frame of the mechanical digger.

Such mechanical diggers ordinarily have a rigid upright main frame whichcan be attached to the rear of a mobile vehicle such as a tractor, in aposition transverse to the longitudinal central plane of the vehicle.The frame carries a boom for supporting the digging implement and theinner end of the boom is pivoted to an upright swivel post or swingcylinder carried by a slide frame mounted on the main frame. Themechanical digger is generally operated by hydraulic actuators which areconnected to and pressurized by the hydraulic system of the vehicle.

In order to operate the boom and digging implement in such a manner asto work closely adjacent an obstruction, such as a foundation orstructural frame, the slide frame may be mounted for movement alongguide means, which form an integral part of the main frame, so that theswivel post or swing cylinder may be moved to selected positions alongthe frame. It is, of course, necessary to lock the slide frame to themain frame to prevent sliding during operation and for this purpose itis known to provide hydraulically applied clamping means. In many of theknown clamping means, the weight of the slide frame and attached diggerapparatus is required to be raised vertically by the hydraulic clampingmeans until suitably provided stop surfaces on the slide and main framesare frictionally engaged or locked against each other (see French Patent1,330,860 to Faucheux). The vertical raising of the slide frame requiresconsiderable force and hydraulic cylinders for applying the force arelarger and more expensive than it is desired that they be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided a novel, and advantageously constructed mounting for a slideframe and hydraulically applied clamping means.

It is an object of the invention to provide a slide frame mountingincluding a pivot structure supporting and permitting limited verticalpivoting or rocking movement of the slide frame as well as transverseshifting movement and to provide a hydraulic locking means for swingingthe slide frame about the pivot structure into locked engagement withthe main frame.

A more specific object is to provide, in one embodiment, a pivotstructure that includes a transverse guide rail of generallyhemispherical cross section on top of the main frame and a nose on theslide frame engaging the guide rail.

Another specific object is to provide, in a second embodiment, a pivotstructure that includes a hooklike projection that extends forwardly anddownwardly from the bottom portion of the front of the slide frame andhaving a rounded end engaged in a transverse groove on the main frame.

Another object is to provide a locking means for use with the pivotstructure of the first embodiment including a downwardly openingwedge-shaped transverse groove along the bottom rear corner of the mainframe, a hook projecting from the slide frame and being loosely disposedin the groove and a hydraulic piston operated cam between the main andslide frames operable for swinging the hook into engagement with oneside of the groove.

Still another object is to provide a locking means for use with thepivot structure of the second embodiment including a transverse rail ontop of the main frame, a lever pivoted on the top of the slide framehaving a hook at one end engaged over the rail and a hydraulic pistonmounted in the other end for engagement with the slide frame and adownwardly facing planar, transverse abutment surface at the rear sideof the main frame and a corresponding convex stop surface on the slideframe.

Still another object is to provide a simple, economical and functionalmounting and locking means for the slide frame.

These and other objects will become apparent from the ensuingdescription and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the mainand slide frames, of a side-shiftable mechanical digger shown clampedtogether.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the frames in anunclamped condition.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I, but showing an embodiment of themain and slide frames.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the frames in anunclamped condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2,reference numeral 10 designates the main support frame of a mechanicaldigger or excavator shown partially at 12, which can be connected to atractor or similar vehicle (not shown). The excavator I2 is guided onthe main frame 10 for sliding movement transverse- Iy to the directionin which the tractor runs with the aid of a slide frame 14. Theexcavator 12 is mounted for horizontal pivoting in the slide frame 14and its displacement can be affected by means of a swing cylinder 16.

In order to enable the slide frame 14 to be mounted in such a manner asto permit transverse sliding, the support frame 10 is provided at itsrear upper comer with a transverse guide rail 18, which is shaped togenerally approximate a semicircle in cross section, and is provide atits rear bottom comer with a downwardly opening wedge-shaped, transverseguide groove 20. The guide rail 18 is provided with bearing surfaces 22and 24 respectively on its front and rear sides and the guide groove 20is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined stop surface 26.The slide frame 14 has complementary counterparts to the guide rail 18and guide groove 20, namely, a nose or projection 28 that is engagedover the guide rail 18 and a hook-shaped projection 30 that is loosely,but captively received in the groove 20. The nose 28 has a pair ofbearing surfaces 32 and 34 that are respectively supported on thebearing surfaces 22 and 24 of the guide rail 18 and the projection 30has an upwardly and forwardly inclined stop surface 36 in opposedrelationship to and adapted to be applied against the stop surface 26 ofthe guide groove 20. It is to be noted that the guide rail 18 and nose28 cooperate to permit the slide frame 14 to swing vertically on themain frame 10 and that the swinging is limited by the guide groove 20and projection 30.

The slide frame 14 is generally U-shaped and the nose 28 and projection30 are respectively at the top and bottom of a web or median portion 38.A hydraulically operated actuator or piston 40 is installed in a sleeveor casing 42 embedded in the forward side of the web 38, it beingunderstood that additional pistons may be installed in side-by-siderelationship if desired. Pressurized fluid for operating the piston 40is admitted by means of a pressure pipe 44 extending into the sleeve 42from the rear side of the web 38. The piston 40 has a free end surface46 of convex shape and positioned for engagement thereby is a cam 48that is loosely but captively received in a pocket 49 defined by the weband projection 30 of the slide frame 14 and a vertical stop surface 50on the main frame 10. The cam 48 has a circular or rodlike bottom end 52that is supported in the pocket bottom 54 defined by the junction of theweb 38 and the projection 30 of the slide frame 14. The cam 48 ispivoted about its bottom end 52 into engagement with the stop surface 50of the main frame when the piston 40 is pressurized.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment in which a slide frame canpivot vertically a limited degree on and can be locked on a main supportframe. Specifically there is shown a main frame 56 having provision atits top and bottom rear corners respectively in the form of a transverseguide rail 60 of substantially rectangular cross section and a guidegroove 62 for slidingly mounting a slide frame 58 thereon. The slideframe 58 is provide with a forwardly and downwardly extending hooklikeprojection 64 having a rounded end 66 supportingly engaged in the guidegroove 62. As hereinafter described, the slide frame 58 pivots or rocksvertically a limited amount about the rounded end 66 of the hooklikeprojection 64 when the slide frame is being locked on the main frame.

To apply the force for locking the slide frame 58 on the main frame 56,there is provide a lever 68 pivoted intermediate its ends on atransverse pin 70 located in an arm 72 cantilevered forwardly from thetop of the slide frame 14 to a location above the main frame 56. Theforward end of the lever 68 is in the form of a downwardly opening hook74 which is disposed over the guide rail 60 and in engagement with afront stop surface 76 of the guide rail 60. A hydraulic piston 78 isinstalled in a vertically disposed sleeve or casing 80 embedded in theunder side of the rear end of the lever 68 and the piston is pressurizedby means of a pressure pipe 82 extending into the sleeve 80 from the topside of the lever 68. The piston 78 has a free arcuate end 84 which isdisposed for engagement with a planar horizontal bearing surface 86 onthe slide frame 58. The rear side of the main frame 56 is recessed, asat 88, and loosely receives a projection 90 that extends forwardly fromthe side frame 58. The recess 88 has a top upwardly and rearwardlyinclined stop surface 92 and the projection 90 has an upper convex stopsurface 94 which is brought into locking contact with the stop surface92 when the hydraulic piston 78 is pressurized.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is firstdescribed. Prior to being shifted, the slide frame 14 is placed in theunlocked condition illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the hydraulic piston 40is unpressurized, the cam 48 is free to slide with the slide frame 14,and the slide frame 14 is free to pivot vertically about the guide rail18 to a limited degree defined by the looseness of the hook-shapedprojection 30 within the guide groove 20. After the slide-frame 14 is inthe position desired for the operation of the excavator 12, the slideframe 14 is locked by actuating the hydraulic piston 40. Actuation ofthe hydraulic piston 40 thrusts it forwardly against the cam 48 whichrotates about its rounded end 52 into engagement with the stop surfaces50 of the main frame 10. This causes the slide frame 14 to rotate aboutthe guide rail 18 until the stop surfaces 26 and 36 respectively of theguide groove 20 and hooklike projection 30 are in locking engagement inthe condition illustrated in FIG. 1.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 isgenerally similar to that of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2. Specifically, prior to shifting, the slide frame 58 is placed in theunlocked condition illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the hydraulic piston 78is unpressurized, the projection 90 of the slide frame is free to movein the recess 88 in the main frame 56 and the slide frame 58 is free topivot vertically about the rounded end 66 of the hooklike projection 64a limited degree defined by the lever 68. When the slide frame 58 is ata desired transverse location on the main frame 56, it may be lockedthereon by actuating the hydraulic piston 78. Actuation of the hydraulicpiston 78 thrusts it downwardly against the stop surface 86 which causesthe lever 68 to be pivoted about the pin 70. This pivoting acts throughthe hook 74 at the front of the lever, and the stop surface 76 of theguide rail 60 to rock or swing the slide frame forwardly about therounded end 66 of the hooklike projection 64 until the stop surfaces 92and 94 of the recess 88 and projection 90, respectively, are in lockingengagement as illustrated in H6.

We claim:

1. A side-shiftable excavator comprising: a main transverse frameadapted for connection to a mobile vehicle and having vertically spacedtransverse guide groove and guide rail means at the rear side thereof, aslide frame having a first projection means engaged with said guide railand second projection means positioned in said guide groove, one of saidfirst and second projection means and one of said guide groove and guiderail means having respective surface means cooperating to support theslide frame for vertical pivoting movement, opposed stop surfaces onsaid main and slide frames disposed for locking engagement when theslide frame is pivoted to a locked position, and lock applying meansoperatively connected between said main and slide frames for selectivelypivoting the slide frame to the locked position.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said guide rail means isapproximately semicircular in cross section and wherein first projectionmeans includes surface means engaged over and vertically pivotallysupporting said slide frame.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said guide groove meansopens upwardly and said second projection means includes a rounded endengaged in said guide groove and pivotally supporting said slide frame.

4. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said guide groove opensdownwardly and said first projection means is captively, but loosely,received in said guide groove and said opposed stop surfaces beingrespectively along one side of said groove and on one side of said firstprojection means.

5. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said first projection meansincludes a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the slide frame forswinging movement crosswise to said guide rail means and having a hookat one end engaged with said guide rail means and said lock applyingmeans including a hydraulic piston carried by said lever and selectivelyengageable with said slide frame.

6. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said lock applying meansincludes at least one generally horizontally disposed hydraulic pistoncarried by said slide frame, a cam positioned forwardly of and beinglocated for selective engagement by said hydraulic piston and beingpivoted on said slide frame for movement toward and away from said mainframe whereby upon actuation of said hydraulic piston, said cam ispivoted into engagement with said main frame causing the latter to pivotto the locked position.

7. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said guide rail and guidegroove means are respectively located at the top and bottom rear cornersof said main frame.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said guide rail means isapproximately semicircular in cross section and wherein said firstprojection means includes surface means engaged over and verticallypivotally supporting said slide frame.

9. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said guide groove meansopens upwardly and said second projection means includes a rounded endengaged in said guide groove and vertically pivotally supporting saidslide frame.

10. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said guide groove opensdownwardly and said first projection means is captively, but loosely,received in said guide groove and said opposed stop surfaces beingdefined respectively along one side of said groove and on one side ofsaid first projection means.

11. the invention defined in claim 9 wherein said first projection meansincludes a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the slide frame forswinging movement crosswise to said guide rail means and having a hookat one end engaged with said guide rail means and said lock applyingmeans including a hydraulic piston carried by said lever and selectivelyengageable with said slide frame.

12. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said lock applying meansincludes at least one generally horizontally disposed hydraulic pistoncarried by said slide frame, a cam positioned forwardly of and beinglocated for selective engagement by said hydraulic piston and beingpivoted on said slide frame for movement toward and away from said mainframe whereby upon actuation of said hydraulic piston said cam ispivoted into engagement with said main frame causing the latter topivotto the locked position.

13. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said main frame has atransverse recess in its rear side between the top and bottom rearcomers, said slide frame having a projection said lever and guide railto pivot the opposed stop surfaces into locking engagement.

1. A side-shiftable excavator comprising: a main transverse frameadapted for connection to a mobile vehicle and having vertically spacedtransverse guide groove and guide rail means at the rear side thereof, aslide frame having a first projection means engaged with said guide railand second projection means positioned in said guide groove, one of saidfirst and second projection means and one of said guide groove and guiderail means having respective surface means cooperating to support theslide frame for vertical pivoting movement, opposed stop surfaces onsaid main and slide frames disposed for locking engagement when theslide frame is pivoted to a locked position, and lock applying meansoperatively connected between said main and slide frames for selectivelypivoting the slide frame to the locked position.
 2. The inventiondefined in claim 1 wherein said guide rail means is approximatelysemicircular in cross section and wherein first projection meansincludes surface means engaged over and vertically pivotally supportingsaid slide frame.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said guidegroove means opens upwardly and said second projection means includes arounded end engaged in said guide groove and pivotally supporting saidslide frame.
 4. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said guidegroove opens downwardly and said first projection means is captively,but loosely, received in said guide groove and said opposed stopsurfaces being respectively along one side of said groove and on oneside of said first projection means.
 5. The invention defined in claim 3wherein said first projection means includes a lever pivotedintermediate its ends to the slide frame for swinging movement crosswiseto said guide rail means and having a hook at one end engaged with saidguide rail means and said lock applying means including a hydraulicpiston carried by said lever and selectively engageable with said slideframe.
 6. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said lock applyingmeans includes at least one generally horizontally disposed hydraulicpiston carried by said slide frame, a cam positioned forwardly of andbeing located for selective engagement by said hydraulic piston andbeing pivoted on said slide frame for movement toward and away from saidmain frame whereby upon actuation of said hydraulic piston, said cam ispivoted into engagement with said main frame causing the latter to pivotto the locked position.
 7. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein saidguide rail and guide groove means are respectively located at the topand bottom rear corners of said main frame.
 8. The invention defined inclaim 7 wherein said guide rail means is approximately semicircular incross section and wherein said first projection means includes surfacemeans engaged over and vertically pivotally supporting said slide frame.9. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said guide groove meansopEns upwardly and said second projection means includes a rounded endengaged in said guide groove and vertically pivotally supporting saidslide frame.
 10. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said guidegroove opens downwardly and said first projection means is captively,but loosely, received in said guide groove and said opposed stopsurfaces being defined respectively along one side of said groove and onone side of said first projection means.
 11. the invention defined inclaim 9 wherein said first projection means includes a lever pivotedintermediate its ends to the slide frame for swinging movement crosswiseto said guide rail means and having a hook at one end engaged with saidguide rail means and said lock applying means including a hydraulicpiston carried by said lever and selectively engageable with said slideframe.
 12. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said lock applyingmeans includes at least one generally horizontally disposed hydraulicpiston carried by said slide frame, a cam positioned forwardly of andbeing located for selective engagement by said hydraulic piston andbeing pivoted on said slide frame for movement toward and away from saidmain frame whereby upon actuation of said hydraulic piston said cam ispivoted into engagement with said main frame causing the latter to pivotto the locked position.
 13. The invention defined in claim 11 whereinsaid main frame has a transverse recess in its rear side between the topand bottom rear corners, said slide frame having a projection looselyreceived in said recess and said opposed stop surfaces respectivelybeing top surfaces of said recess and projections whereby actuation ofsaid hydraulic piston will act through said lever and guide rail topivot the opposed stop surfaces into locking engagement.